Carpenter threw 30 pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday as a "pre-game warmup." Carpenter will throw against Saturday, and is expected to throw an "extended session." That session will involve Carpenter taking breaks after he pitches to simulate throwing a game. 

Carpenter said he and the team will have a better idea of if and when he'll return by May 28.

"I don’t want to just throw it up to luck," manager John Farrell said, per the Boston Herald. "You create your own luck and create your own situations to put up a zero and shut an inning off after you’ve recorded two outs."

Doubront will take the mound Thursday for the first time since May 8. The extended layoff was planned to give Doubront the opportunity to throw two bullpen sessions and work with pitching coach Juan Nieves to adjust the stride in his delivery. The hope is Doubront will generate better velocity and improved command.

"Figuring out little things in my mechanics that help me to stay in line, to stay repeating my delivery and throw more strikes down in the zone," Doubront said. "That kind of helps."

Since sitting out one game to rest his rib-cage injury, Middlebrooks is batting .292 (7 for 24) with one home run, two RBI and six doubles in his last six games.

"Whether it coincides with the collision, and I mean that with all sincerity, he’s not pulling off the ball as much," manager John Farrell said. "He’s staying to the middle of the field, and that’s when his power really shows and the bat stays in the zone longer."

Middlebrooks downplays the notion the injury helped with his struggles. In fact, he said slow starts are nothing new.

"I’ve gone through this at almost every level," Middlebrooks said. "Just not quite this long, and the resources weren’t as good for (pitchers) to pick me apart. But it’s not other guys picking me apart. It’s beating myself, and that’s the thing that’s frustrating."

Wigginton will hit seventh and play first base. Regular first baseman Allen Craig will shift to left field, giving Matt Holliday a day off. Wigginton has only started seven games this year. This will be his third start at first base. Wigginton is hitting .200/.286/.240 in 25 at-bats this season. 

"I’m a little surprised at the start Jacoby’s gotten off to. But once again -- and I’m sorry to resort to this cliche all the time -- it is only mid-May," Lucchino said. "I haven’t lost faith in Jacoby Ellsbury. We are a different team when he is hitting and running and playing defense the way he is capable of playing. You’re not going to hear me say anything very critical of Jacoby Ellsbury. I love this team when he is hitting and playing on all cylinders."

"I’m concerned over, of course, how he’s doing mentally," Red Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves said, per WEEI.com. "You’re always concerned about a guy’s mental state when he’s engaged in an at-bat and doesn’t do well. It continues to be the same thing."

Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino weighed in on the matter Thursday saying the Red Sox aren't giving up on Bard.

"The general plan is one of patience," Lucchino said. "Daniel has tremendous talent, he’s shown that at the big league level. You don’t need to be a pitching guru to appreciate the kind of pitcher that he once was. We think he can regain that. But it’s going to take some patience, it’s going to take some specialized tutoring and attention. I hope he can bounce back. There’s plenty of room in our bullpen for him."

Jay has started 35 games this year, and is likely receiving a routine day off. Jay is hitting .276/.351/.425 in 134 at-bats this year. Shane Robinson will fill in for Jay and hit second Thursday. Jay will likely return to face Brewers starter Wily Peralta Friday. 

Holliday has played in 37 games this year, and is receiving a routine day off. He'll be replaced by Allen Craig in left. Holliday is hitting .268/.361/.442 in 138 at-bats this year. He should return to the lineup Friday against Brewers starting Wily Peralta. 

"I think he did it as he pushed off the wall, he sprained it," manager Ned Yost said to MLB.com. "I was just watching the ball. I saw him push up, go after it and saw it was a home run. Then I took my attention off of him. Then I looked and he was squatting down."

Dyson, who Yost said would be getting more playing time in center field, is expected to be re-evaluated Friday. Dyson is batting .294 (5 for 17) with a home run, triple, two doubles and five RBI in his last five games.

"I think his foot got stuck in the wall when he jumped," right fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "Hopefully, he's OK because we definitely need him out there."

Davis had been moved to the seventh spot in the lineup against left-handers but will continue to hit in the four hole against righties. Davis has hit .210 against lefties over his career but has a .257/.350/.483 line against righties.